A fireplace in a home is always associated with warmth and comfort. But an excellent option can be not only a real fireplace, in which there is fire, but also various decorative models. A home fireplace made of cardboard or boxes will be especially interesting and uncomplicated in execution.
A decorative fireplace is very easy to make with your own hands, because it will not only allow you to reveal your talents and imagination, but also create an unusual decoration for your home or apartment. An original fireplace made of cardboard can easily replace a real model for you. At the same time, a cardboard fireplace can be made in any color variation and decorated with various interesting details.
Before creating a false fireplace, you should choose a place where you can place it. It is very important that it is located in "its place". That is, it successfully fit not only into the interior, but also, for example, served as a disguise for a wall with a crack or a not very attractive corner in a room.
Varieties
False - a cardboard fireplace can be wall or corner. As for the wall-mounted version, everything is quite simple. Such a fireplace can be compact or, conversely, a little bulky. It all depends on the interior of the room where you want to install the future fireplace. In order for the wall fireplace not to seem boring, you can make a decorative shelf for it, it will be able to hold various decor items, for example, small vases or candles. Such a fireplace is not so difficult to manufacture, but we will talk about this a little later.
A corner fireplace is even less hassle than a wall fireplace. You can also add a shelf to it. As well as various decorative elements in the "fire zone". As the main materials, you can use paint, various types of wallpaper and self-adhesive film.
Do it yourself from boxes - step by step
If you want to revive your interior and decide to make a fireplace - imitation with your own hands, then old and unnecessary boxes may well come in handy. Now we will tell you how to easily bring to life the wall-mounted version of the fireplace. You will need the following materials: cardboard (boxes), a ruler or tape measure, a pencil, scissors and a stationery knife, glue, double-sided and masking tape, as well as various materials for decoration, such as paint and wallpaper.
Before starting work, you need to choose a place to install the future false fireplace, decide on the final shape and dimensions, and also make a small drawing. In addition, it is worth remembering that your fireplace will consist of three main components that are an integral part of the entire structure. The base, the portal for the fireplace (a place for the future hearth) and, of course, the upper shelf, which will serve as a future stand for various decorative elements.
First, you need to conveniently lay out the cardboard box and outline all the details for the future fireplace according to the drawing. Next, cut out these details.
In addition, you should cut out a place or window for the future hearth - a portal. You can use a utility knife. You can choose the shape to your liking, it can be classic rectangular or in the form of an arch.
To strengthen the folds of the future fireplace structure, you can use glue or tape, or both at the same time. In order for the structure to be stable and not wobble, you need to make it more rigid. For this, stiffeners are most often used. Particular attention should be paid to the base of the fireplace, which is recommended to be strengthened with cardboard ribs. Such ribs are glued either chaotically or collected in a lattice.
You can make a mantel in several ways. But it is worth remembering that it must be dense, since, most likely, you will want to place various kinds of decor items on it. If you decide to make a shelf out of cardboard, then it is better to use several layers glued together. Do not make the shelf too bulky, otherwise your future structure may well fall. Sometimes thin plywood can also be used as a mantel. Such a shelf is attached to double-sided tape, liquid nails or polymer glue.
And finally, after collecting and gluing the entire structure, it must be given the appearance of a real fireplace. To do this, you can use any materials for decoration and decoration. The finished fireplace is primed, covered with water-based paint, and to get the desired shade of paint, you can add various colors. You can also use a variety of wallpapers, self-adhesive paper, or a combination of all of these materials. You can decorate your fireplace as you see fit. You can use decorative openwork skirting boards, stucco moldings, or draw various patterns using stencils.
If there is not so much space in your room, but you really want to install a decorative fireplace, then a corner false fireplace will be an excellent option. In addition, with the help of such a design, you not only diversify the interior of your home, but you can also hide a nondescript corner or mask cracks on the wall.
As with creating any fireplace, initially, you need to choose a place to install the future fireplace and make the corresponding drawing. To create a homemade corner fireplace, you need a large box. In this design, the most important thing is to cut off one of the four sides of the box so that the other three form a triangle.
On the facade, which is installed in the corner of the box, using scissors or a utility knife, you need to cut a rounded hole and make a bend inward. It is very important not to touch the bottom of the structure. Here, on both sides, you need to cut two arcs. And in the end, you get an angle that you can fasten between the side walls of your fireplace.
For facing a corner fireplace, wallpaper with imitation of a brick is very well suited. The hearth of the fireplace can be decorated with decorative candles or logs or any other items.
Necessary materials
If you decide to create a fake fireplace, then you do not need a lot of rare and expensive materials for this. When choosing to create such a fireplace, you will have minimal material costs, but at the same time you will get maximum pleasure from the whole process. After all, creating something with your own hands is always interesting and even useful.
The main material you need is cardboard. Most often, large and small cardboard boxes are used, depending on the desired result. For the mantel, you can use cardboard or thin plywood, sometimes drywall. You also need a ruler or tape measure, a pencil, scissors or a stationery knife, masking and double-sided tape, stationery glue and PVA. In addition, you need different wallpapers to decorate the finished fireplace structure, self-adhesive paper, for example, with a stone print. Fireplace cladding can also be made from superisol. You can use various skirting boards and stucco moldings as a variety of decorative details. Thanks to such details, the imitation fireplace will look like a real one.
Drawing
In order to properly make a fireplace with your own hands, you must first make a drawing and sketch of the future design with all the exact measurements. Such a drawing is a kind of technology project. Before creating a drawing, you should choose a place for the future fireplace, empty walls or corners are ideal. In addition, with the help of a wall or corner false - fireplace, you can easily mask various irregularities on the walls.
Next, you need to decide what size of the fireplace will fit in the place you choose to install best. In the next step, you need to draw up a detailed sketch of the future fireplace, where you will enter all the dimensions and measurements. The drawing is one of the components in the process of creating a decorative fireplace, all measurements must be as accurate as possible, with minimal errors, so that during the work you are not distracted by various trifles. Experienced craftsmen advise to prepare a finished drawing of the fireplace, it is recommended to make it colored and with future details that you want to place directly on the fireplace itself. Such a drawing will greatly facilitate your work, in addition, you will immediately know which materials are worth purchasing in the first place.
Decoration and decor
So, even at the planning stage of the future fireplace, you should think about the design and decoration of the fireplace structure. Immediately after you have done the main part of the work, and a cardboard fireplace appeared in front of you, you need to prime it. For this, water-based white paint is most often used. In addition, you can add color to such a paint and get the shade you need for an already finished product or for some specific details. You can use acrylic paints for exterior decoration.
7 pictures
For example, to create a false - baroque fireplace, you can paint the details of the fireplace with gold or bronze acrylic paints. In addition, you can use stucco molding, which will be very useful for such a style, and make the entire fireplace in white shades. You can decorate such a luxurious fireplace with various candles. Moreover, you can place them not only on the mantelpiece, but also inside the fireplace itself.
You can also decorate your cardboard fireplace in country or Provence style. But do not forget that you should not only like this version of the fireplace, but also successfully harmonize with the entire interior. To create such a fireplace, you can use wallpaper with imitation of wood or stones. Above the fireplace, a picture with nature or a mirror will look very good. And on the mantelpiece, you can place small vases.
A very interesting and easy-to-follow solution will be the creation of a Scandinavian-style fireplace. This style assumes light shades and uncomplicated details. Such a fireplace will be an excellent solution for lovers of minimalism.
To decorate the fireplace with marble chips, you can use liquid volumetric wallpaper, or you can use any other wallpaper, for example, with imitation of brick or stone.
In addition, elements of a fireplace decor can be not only various stucco moldings, but also miniature columns, which you can arrange at your discretion. You can also use decorative moldings. These are the same skirting boards. With the help of such moldings, you can arrange the portal and the edges of the facades on the fireplace.
And now you have completely designed and installed the fireplace and now it's time to think about various accessories and other elements that you can place directly in the fireplace itself. As already mentioned, candles will look very good in the fireplace portal. But decorative firewood will also be an interesting solution. They can often be purchased from natural wood, or you can make them yourself from corrugated cardboard. Such crafts - logs will very successfully decorate the firebox of your fireplace.
How to decorate the firebox
You can decorate the decorative insert of your fireplace with the help of various accessories. Candles will undoubtedly be a good option, and they can be not only classic light shades, but also bright ones, for example, red, orange or blue. They will look especially good if you decide to design a cardboard fireplace for the New Year. In addition, if you are decorating a New Year's fireplace, do not forget to put on it those very Christmas socks forts that are so popular in the West. In addition to candles, you can put artificial spruce and rowan branches in the fireplace insert. Live spruce branches, as well as cones, would be a good option, as they will not only create a festive atmosphere, but will also delight household members with a wonderful forest smell. Let your imagination unfold. Use a variety of delicate bow garlands and other decorations. You can diversify your festive fireplace as you wish.
How to make cardboard fireplace logs
As mentioned, you can decorate your fireplace insert with decorative corrugated cardboard logs. It is quite simple to make such logs and it will not take you much time. On corrugated board, you need to measure the length and width and cut off the necessary strips. Then these strips need to be rolled into tubes. After that, you need to fix the remaining edge with glue, until it is completely dry, you need to tie the resulting logs with a rope.
If you want to get logs with knots, then you can make small twigs from corrugated cardboard in the same way. And after the large logs have dried, glue small branches to them. When the glue is completely dry, cover all the logs with white paint, preferably a thick layer.
Ready-made logs should be placed in the fireplace insert; they can be supplemented with various decorative flowers and twigs with greenery. Small figurines of forest animals can be placed next to the fireplace. Squirrels and bunnies will look very good with your "live" fireplace.
Where to place
The traditional place for placing a fireplace, be it decorative or real, is most often considered a living room. And only then all the other rooms in the house. There are no strict criteria, so you can place a false - a cardboard fireplace where you see fit and where you think it will fit perfectly into the interior. An excellent place is not only the hall, but also the bedroom, as well as the children's room. In addition, do not forget that such a fireplace will be an excellent disguise for cracks on the walls, as well as just a decoration for a room if it lacks that very zest. For a children's room, you can choose a corner fireplace made of cardboard, you can arrange it in pastel and delicate shades, and put a family photo and a vase of flowers on the shelf.
If you decide to decorate your bedroom or guest room with a fireplace, then it is best to stick to moderate shades. You can place a false fireplace in front of the bed or choose a corner option.
In addition, do not forget wherever you place your handmade fireplace, you can always add any decor to it according to your taste. A properly executed fireplace will not differ from a real one in absolutely nothing, except that it will not be possible to see a real fire in it. But such a fireplace is very safe and beautiful in the interior of the house, it is unlikely to leave guests indifferent. In addition, a home-made fireplace is already an author's and unique work, which only you will have with an individual design.
